Ch.12 World War I Trench Warfare & The War at Sea

Warm up Warm up What does the cartoon on the left depict?

Trench Warfare Stalemate at Ypres Stalemate at Ypres –Soldiers dig-in Casualties high Casualties high –New technology vs. old tactics New weapons of war New weapons of war –Machine guns –Tanks –Airplanes –Flame throwers –Bayonets –Grenades –Pistols –Poison Gas

Trench Horrors Trench Rats Trench Rats –Decomposing bodies attracted thousands –One pair produce 880 offspring in one year –Big as cats –Would sleep under blankets with the men –The rats were huge. They were so big they would eat a wounded man if he couldnt defend himself. These rats became very bold and would attempt to take food from the pockets of sleeping men. Two or three rats would always be found on a dead body. They usually went for the eyes first and then they burrowed their way right into the corpse.

More Horrors Trench Foot Trench Foot –Trenches were waterlogged and constantly muddy –Only way to prevent was to keep feet dry –Cure: amputation Your feet swell to two or three times their normal size and go completely dead. You could stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing. Your feet swell to two or three times their normal size and go completely dead. You could stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing.

Amputations Gangrene: rot Gangrene: rot Day after day we cut down stinking bandages and exposed wounds that destroyed the whole original plan of the body. Day after day we cut down stinking bandages and exposed wounds that destroyed the whole original plan of the body. …I saw that tiny bags, containing pure salt, are sometimes deposited into the open wound and bandaged tightly into place. These bags of salt – must inflict excruciating pain. It is certainly a purifier, but surely a very harsh one. …I saw that tiny bags, containing pure salt, are sometimes deposited into the open wound and bandaged tightly into place. These bags of salt – must inflict excruciating pain. It is certainly a purifier, but surely a very harsh one.

The War at Sea German U-boats German U-boats –Attack without provocation, commercial or military British Blockade British Blockade –Cut supplies to Germany –Germany responds w/war zone around British Isles –¼ British fleet destroyed –1 million tons of shipping lost U.S. U.S. –Wish to remain neutral – trade w/everyone

The War at Sea Sinking of the Lusitania – Sinking of the Lusitania – May 7, 1915 May 7, 1915 –Killed 128 Americans –Wilson demands: apology, money, no more subs money, no more subs –Gets: all but sub promise – U.S. begins arms build- up Sussex – March 1916, more Americans lost Sussex – March 1916, more Americans lost –Sussex Pledge: will not sink merchant ships w/out warning and attempt to save human lives February, 1917 – Germans resume sub warfare February, 1917 – Germans resume sub warfare –Violate Sussex pledge –U.S. begins policy of armed neutrality